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Workforce of the two Malaysian carmakers vaccinated via PIKAS

PIKAS (Program Imunisasi Industri COVID-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta), the public-private partnership immunisation program for employees in the manufacturing sector, has been helping speed up vaccination of the Malaysian population. The large workforces of both Malaysian carmakers – Perodua and Proton – as well as those in businesses associated with them have receive vaccinations over the past weeks.

Proton reports that, following the second round of vaccinations last week, over 86% of its 8,486 employees are now fully vaccinated for protection against COVID-19 infection. The number is expected to increase over the coming weeks as 98% have already received their first dose, in line with the company’s aim to achieve herd immunity in its chain of operations.

As with the first round of vaccinations, the sports complex at the company’s Tanjung Malim plant in Perak was repurposed as an industry vaccine dispensing centre, catering for staff and vendors in the area, while those based in Shah Alam went to the Shah Alam Convention Centre in Selangor.

“PROTON is pleased to announce our PIKAS vaccination programme has been a resounding success. There are more than 60,000 people in our business ecosystem, including staff from vendors and dealers, so we are thankful to MITI, MOSTI and the Ministry of Health for their guidance to coordinate such a mammoth task and ensuring everyone registered on MySejahtera has been given the vaccine,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

80% already received one dose
“We estimate more than 80% of our operations chain would have received at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of August and this helps to ensure Proton is able to hit the ground running once the automotive industry is given the greenlight to resume operations nationwide,” he added.

To prepare for resumption of business activities, the carmaker has relooked at its business procedures to reduce the likelihood of infections being spread. Procedures at retail operations have been further tightened to protect customers and staff alike while production processes at all the plants have been scrutinised for any possible risk of infection to both downstream and upstream operations.

“Proton is committed to helping Malaysia lower the number of COVID-19 infections to quickly achieve the milestones in the National Recovery Plan. We have created new processes in all areas, from our production lines to our corporate offices, ensuring a new and safer work environment. It also means strict new rules will be enforced throughout the company and measures such as virtual meetings and splitting work between home and the office will be the norm for the near future,” Dr. Li said.

Perodua employees and suppliers vaccinated
At Perodua too, PIKAS has been used to organise a vaccination exercise for the employees and suppliers. Some 13,000 Perodua employees and suppliers have received the first dose of the vaccine at the Perodua Vaccination Centre since the end of July.

The vaccination facility is within the Perodua manufacturing complex in Sg. Choh, Selangor. Besides maintaining a high level of hygienic cleanliness by daily sanitization, there are also strict security checks at the main entrance to control movements so that there is no crowding.

Perodua’s initiative will not only prepare its workforce for the time when operations are allowed to resume but also contribute to ensuring protection against COVID-19 infection for a large proportion of the people in the Hulu Selangor district where the carmaker’s headquarters and factories are located.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings organises in-house vaccination programme for employees

The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.

Safer, more immersive experience for Isuzu customers in the era of the New Normal

Isuzu Malaysia’s customers can expect a safer and more immersive Isuzu experience in the era of the New Normal as the country continues on its journey to recovery from the pandemic. This is the promise from Kenkichi Sogo, the company’s new Light Commercial Vehicle Division’s Chief Operating Officer, as the continuing threat of infections necessitates the enforcement of various safety measures.

Among the measures Isuzu Malaysia has initiated has been the development of an online experience including a 360-degree augmented reality showcase offering prospects an immersive look into the design and features of the latest D-Max pick-up truck before they even need to step into the showrooms. Most shopping tools ranging from loan calculations to maintenance costs are interactively available at the website (pickuptruck.isuzu.net.my), allowing visitors to make informed choices before requesting online for a test drive vehicle to be brought to them at a safe and convenient location.

Procedures for vehicle servicing and maintenance have also been reviewed with the aim of ensuring minimal backlog and ensuring a smoother and efficient flow of vehicles brought in for servicing. Customers are encouraged to make their service appointments directly with their dealers early to ensure their preferred time slots are available.

With over 500 monthly bookings for the new D-Max since its launch, the task in hand will also be to safely hand over the vehicles to the customers. “Due to the restrictions in operations and the limited amount of logistics activities allowed over the past months, a key initiative will be to safely and efficiently deliver the new vehicles to their owners as quickly as possible. We hope all our customers will remain patient and maintain compliance to the set procedures to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for all,” said Mr. Sogo.

He added that while the new D-Max has created a significant amount of interest and witnessed a surge in vehicle bookings over the past 3 months, resulting in Isuzu consecutively claiming the No.2 spot in its segment.

*An Isuzu dealership in Taiping, Perak.*

“The launch of our latest Isuzu D-Max model during the pandemic necessitated a paradigm shift in the way we presented our new models to prospective customers. As we move towards greater leniency, we need to vigilantly evolve yet remain relevant to the situation in our Gemba (operating environment),” said Mr. Sogo.

Mr. Sogo, 43, is no stranger to the Malaysian market. He spent the last 4 years in Isuzu Malaysia as General Manager overseeing operations of the light commercial vehicle division and parts operations. A graduate of Keio University in Japan, Mr. Sogo began his career in Mitsubishi Corporation in 2001 and has been involved with the Isuzu business for the past 7 years. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia as successor to Masayuki Suzuki, who has returned to the head office in Japan to take on a new position.

To know more about Isuzu vehicles and the locations of authorised dealers, visit www.isuzu.net.my.

Average Monthly orders for New Isuzu D-MAX are 100% higher than for previous generation

Silk-FAW to display updated Hongqi S9 PHEV hypercar at Milan Design Week next month

The S9 PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) hypercar which was first presented as a concept at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show is making steady progress towards production. The last time it made the news was in April this year when a production-ready model was shown at Auto Shanghai 2021 and orders were being taken.

Pricing starts from 1.5 million euros (about RM7.453 million) and at that price, Silk-FAW would not be looking at high volumes. It is believed that the production run will be limited to 99 units, so it will be a ‘halo car’ for the rest of the Hongqi range which will have many new fully electric models.

Styled by ex-Volkswagen designer
The S9 began life as a project for the Hongqi premium brand of FAW (First Auto Works, a state-owned carmaker in China). The original design was done by Walter de Silva, formerly design head at the Volkswagen Group whose work includes many Volkswagen, SEAT and Audi models, including the R8. He is credited with being the man who introduced the Singleframe grille design which has been used on Audis since 2004.

In February this year, FAW signed a joint venture with Silk EV, an Italian engineering company, to develop a series of ultra-luxury, high-performance, new energy sports vehicles for the China and global markets. This moved the S9 to Silk-FAW which will bring it to the market by 2023.

To be built in Italy
With an investment of 1 billion euros, the S9 (as well as another model) will be further developed and manufactured in Regione Emilia-Romagna, the heart of Italy’s ‘Motor Valley’, where Silk EV has its headquarters. As development of the Hongqi ‘S’ Series line-up continues, production will be carried out in Italy as well as Changchun, where FAW’s headquarters is located in China.

1,400 bhp with top speed over 400 km/h
Silk-FAW will display the production version of the S9 at the Milan Design Week in early September. It has been confirmed that the hypercar will have a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 4-litre V8 petrol engine with electric turbocharging, and two electric motors. Total system output is expected to be in the region of 1,400 bhp, with 880 bhp coming from the engine. A top speed of over 400 km/h is expected with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h targeted to be 1.9 seconds.

Other technical and design elements are not being revealed yet but as the pictures show, it has a long-tail design with a spaceframe underneath. Aerodynamic efficiency will obviously be superior and besides a variable geometry spoiler, there will be innovative carbonfibre air intakes, seamlessly integrated into each headlight, to bring cooling air to the engine. Air extraction will be via the rear light units.

Aspark Owl – first Japanese electric hypercar – claims acceleration record

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Audi unveils the Skysphere roadster concept

Going fully electric is like starting all over again in designing cars. Many of the constraints developed over the years by the conventional combustion engine and drivetrain no longer need to influence the design, and new approaches can be taken. There are also new technologies and materials to use, providing greater efficiency, safety and comfort.

Audi, like other carmakers who are rapidly electrifying their range, has been developing new models for this new ‘electric age’. With its products catering to the upper end of the market, the focus is on luxury models and the company has a new family of concept vehicles to show the world how its future designs will be.

The three Audi concept cars are the Skysphere, Grandsphere, and Urbansphere, and the common use of ‘sphere’ in their names refers to the space surrounding the passengers. Thus, much attention has been given to interior design.

The Skysphere is the first one to be revealed and its unveiling took place this Friday at Audi’s new design studio in California, where it was conceived and designed. The concept car will also be on display from this Friday at the Monterey Car Week in the same American state.

A roadster with variable length
The Skysphere has the form of a roadster and offers two different driving experiences: a grand touring experience and a sports experience. This makes use of a technical detail – the variable wheelbase. Electric motors and a sophisticated mechanism with body and frame components that slide into one another make it possible to vary the wheelbase itself and the exterior length of the car by 250 mm. At the same time, the ground clearance is adjustable by 10 mm to enhance comfort and driving dynamics.

With the touch of button, the driver can choose either the 4.94-metre long e-roadster in ‘Sports’ mode with a reduced wheelbase, or be chauffeured around in a 5.19-metre GT in the autonomous ‘Grand Touring’ driving mode. In both modes, the open top maximises the sense of freedom.

Lightweight strategy keeps weight to 1,800 kgs
Under the long bonnet are the electric systems and components, with most of the mass situated between the front axle and the windscreen line. An electric motor is positioned on the rear axle, delivering 465 kW (632 ps)/750 Nm to enable acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h in a projected 4 seconds. An aggressive lightweight strategy helps keep the overall weight of the large car to around 1,800 kgs, with 60% on the rear end.

The Skysphere’s battery modules are primarily positioned behind the cabin – an ideal configuration for the centre of gravity and agility. Additional modules can be found between the seats in the center tunnel of the interior – another position chosen in favour of vehicle dynamics. The battery’s capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving a range of more than 500 kms using the most economical mode.

Steer-by-wire
The steering system is steer-by-wire and controls both the front and the rear wheels. Because the system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, the driver can select different steering ratios and steering settings, all at the touch of a button. This allows the steering to be adjusted from extremely direct to comfortable, while high self-aligning forces can be changed to minimal self-aligning forces when parking, for example. The rear-axle steering and adaptive wheelbase also contribute to the car’s small turning radius.

The latest evolutionary stage of Audi’s adaptive air suspension has been implemented in the concept car and features 3 independent air chambers to provide a comfortable base suspension. Individual chambers can be deactivated for a more sporty ride with fast acceleration. The result is that the characteristic curve of the spring becomes more progressive, reducing roll and pitch to a minimum. Lowering the body by 10 mm reduces aerodynamic drag – particularly relevant when driving long distances.

Two dashboard layouts
Within the Skysphere, control elements such as the steering wheel and pedals can be swiveled into an ‘invisible’ position and thereby completely absent from the interior. This adds to the spacious environment inspired in many areas by the Art Deco universe. The comfortable seats boast the visual elegance of designer furnishings, yet fulfill the functions of a car seat in driving mode without any compromises. They are upholstered in sustainably produced microfibre fabric and, thanks to their variable position in the interior, offer the kind of freedom to move and legroom that can otherwise only be experienced when flying first class on an airplane.

Should the driver be in control, then the interior transforms into an ergonomically perfect driving machine cockpit. Together with the chassis and body, the instrument panel and the monitor panel on the centre console also move to the rear. Large touch monitors are used to manage the car and infotainment systems. In Grand Touring mode, this can be used to display content from the Internet, video conferences, or streamed movies.

A few weeks later, the second concept car, the Grandsphere, will be presented at the 2021 IAA Mobility show in Munich, Germany. In the first half of 2022, the Urbansphere will follow as the third concept car, perhaps at an event in China.

Three new concept cars show design of Audi’s future luxury models

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia improves functionality of MITSUBISHI CONNECT MY app

In these pandemic times, close contact is discouraged to avoid the risk of spreading the coronavirus. It’s a serious matter, which is why measures such as use of facemasks (double is better) and even face shields are recommended to be used whenever leaving the home. This new situation, which has been with us for about 18 months, means that many of the things we have been doing need to change in some ways.

When sending a car to a service centre for maintenance or repairs, it used to be that you could just drive in (though an appointment has always been recommended) and be served. Now, an appointment is necessary so that the service centre can be prepared to receive a customer and comply with the Standard Operating Procedures.

Timely introduction of app
Thus when Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) introduced their MITSUBISHI CONNECT MY mobile application in June 2020, it was very timely and contributed to helping vehicle owners communicate in a safer as well as more convenient manner with their dealership.

“The pandemic has created great demands on us as a society and despite the challenges; it also allowed us to be more resilient and agile in this new digital technology environment. Besides technology on improving customer’s convenience, the safety of our customers and staff is also our utmost priority,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

Additional features
With kaizen (constant improvement) very much a part of MMM, the MITSUBISHI CONNECT MY app has received enhancements after a year. The mobile app already enables Mitsubishi owners to book a service appointment, receive service appointment reminders and check service histories.

Now it also enables owners to be aware of the progress of work on their vehicle after they have sent it to the service centre. Through the app, they will receive status notifications and be informed when they can collect their vehicle.

Mitsubishi Motors Melak — *With the MITSUBISHI CONNECT app, owners can communicate with the authorised dealers easily, minimising direct contact.*

Keeping track of the vehicle’s service cost and warranty details is another one of the useful functions. Owner can be informed about their upcoming service cost with an estimation and warranty details for ease of planning. In addition, roadtax and insurance renewal reminders will also be sent through the app.

When help is needed
Additionally, Mitsubishi owners can request roadside assistance service in a breakdown or accident using the SOS Trace & Track feature. By tapping on the ‘SOS’ function on the app, the user’s location can be tracked accurately using a GPS locator and its details will be verified by customer service personnel from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia who will send help immediately.

Other useful functions of the MITSUBISHI CONNECT MY app include staying in touch with the Mitsubishi Assist 24Hrs customer careline and contacting a 24-Hour breakdown assistance service throughout Malaysia as well as emergency services, should the situation arise. And, of course, the locations of all authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealers in Malaysia can be found in the app database.

“With the enhancements of the MITSUBISHI CONNECT MY mobile app together with the Mitsubishi Online Showroom, we want to assure our customers that we are engaging with them through a seamless journey from purchase to ownership in a safe environment,” said Mr. Shinnishi.

Visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my to know more about Mitsubishi vehicles and services in Malaysia, and the locations of authorised dealerships.